december 2012 in a nutshell

Warning: You are about to be inundated with photos.

December has been a full month.

Full of activities.

Full of family.

Full of friends.

Full of love.

Full of fun.

We spent a day at Disneyland with Uncle Phillip, Aunt Andrea, Ariana and Juliana. We forgot that our passes weren't good on Saturdays...big oops!

We hosted our 4th annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

Polar Express at school for Charlie and Jack's last day of preschool... 

 Early Christmas with Aunt Christine's family...

Santa Train with friends and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas...

Family photos....we went with the crazy one of course.

Baking and eating and eating and eating...

Tree hunting...

 Decorating...

Christmas Eve with my side of the family...

Christmas morning at our house...

Christmas Day with Kevin's family...

Like I said, it was very full.

I think I like full.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May your 2013 be full of many blessings.

Much love,
Katie

Merry Christmas!

Much love,

Katie and the Guys

I blinked and he turned 5

My baby, Jack, turned five on the 4th of December. I still remember the shock of the plus sign on the pregnancy test like it was yesterday.

Yes, I know how those things work, but with Charlie only 7 months old and Luke barely 4, I was not prepared for 3 kids within such a short time-frame.

Jack turned out to be the most easy-going, happy little guy. Instead of complicating life, he taught me to be more flexible and to let things go. He cruised everywhere we went. He napped in the car as we drove to get Luke at preschool. Schedule? What schedule? He was so loveable that he even convinced me that it was okay to feed him on a newborn schedule for the 1st 10 months of his life.

When I finally decided that I needed to reclaim my sleep, he cried for a few minutes and slept through the night from that point on. He had me fooled. I'll confess that I loved that alone time with him at night as I knew he was my last baby. I hung onto each stage for dear life.

Now he's officially a big boy.  

Five.

It is part of a new club: The Big Kid Club. But Jack shows me that being a big kid doesn't mean he doesn't still depend on his mama. He still snuggles with me on the couch and grabs my hand when we walk. Not always, but when he does... I notice.

I know. 

I have two older boys.

Those days are not going to last forever.

Oh, this wild and crazy kid! He is so full of energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes those qualities lead him to trouble. But that is okay, for I know he will find a way to use it for good because he's a good guy.

I love this big kid. He makes my heart full. 

Happy 5th birthday, Big Kid.

Much love,

Mom